Electrical connection means



ly 1941. v c. s. PENFOLD I 2,249,975

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed Feb. 3. 1938 INVENTOR. I

Patented July 1941 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Charles S. Pcnfold, Bronson, Mich., assignor to H. A. Douglas Mfg. 00., Bronson, Mich, a corporation'of Michigan Application February 3, 1938, Serial No. 188,432, 11 Claims (01. 200-163) This invention is directed to electrical switches ,and primarily to electrical connection means therefor.

Heretofore, electrical devices, particularly electrical switches, have been-.provided with electrical connections in the form of terminal posts or studs to which conductor wires are adapted to be either detach-ably or fixedly secured.

Figure 4 is a top planview of a modified form of the invention:

One object of the present invention is to pro-- vide terminals adjacent the ends of conductors and construct the switch in a manner whereby of the conductor wires may be detachably conected with respect to the switchback, the means here employed preferably consisting in the provision of a pin and slot connection between the terminals and the Switchback, the slots preferably being provided inthe Switchback and the pins on the terminals.

Another object is to provide electrical connection means for a switch including in combination, an insulator and a plug conductor terminal,

projection means provided on the terminal, means provided on the insulator adapted to cooperate with the projection means in a manner whereby said terminal may be detachably connected to said insulator, and means associated with the insulator for limiting the inward movement of the terminal when the terminal is being assembled with said actuator.

A further object is to provide a good mechanical connection between the terminals and the switchback, and primarily an arrangement whereby a particularly eflicient direct electrical connection can be established between the bridge member of the switch and the terminals to control an electric circuit.

" 7 2-4 of Figure 1 showing a fragmentary part of the structure. including a terminal;

in elevation,

Figure 5 is alongitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyon line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing more in detail the construction shown in Figure 4,

and including a pair of terminals;

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 4, showing a fragmentary part of the structure, including a terminal; and

Fi re 7 discloses another modified form of the invention.

Considering first the construction disclosed in Figures 1 through 3 of the drawing, numeral I represents a switch casing of any deslrableshape and construction, and 2 is a switchback closing the open side of the casing, secured in place preferably by integral fingers formed on the casing which are clinched over and upon the switchback, as clearly shown. ,In fact the switchback may be termed an insulator or carrier.

A carrier 4 of insulating material carrying a bridge member 5 is preferably supported upon resilient means in the form of an elongated leaf spring 8 secured to the carrier, and said spring is adapted to slidably engage the bottom wall of the casing. A handle I is suitably connected to the carrier so that the bridge member may be moved from the inoperative position shown into effective electrical engagement with' the inner convex extremitiesof the plug conductor terminals 8 and 9 to close an electric circuit. It is to be understood that the switch shown is merely illustrative, and that if desired may be of a rotary, toggle, or other type. Also, that insofar as this modification is concerned, it is immaterial whether the spring means urging the bridge member in a direction to engage the terminals is arranged as shown, or is located between the carrier and a bridge member of a switch, or whether the bridge member itself is of a resilient character, in which event, the use of separate resilient means may be entirely eliminated. These variations are all well known in the art.

The switchback 2 may be comprised of a plurality of superimposed members, but as here shown, is preferably a single block ofsuitable insulating material. A pair of spaced apart apertures ill, of like size and shape, are provided in the switchback and extend entirely transversely therethrough. Each aperture preferably consists of a round hole having two slots or guideways ll diametrically arranged which intersect the margin of the hole. Adjacent the lower extremity of each aperture there is provided in the switchback, notches or seats l2 which each other.

intersect the margin of the hole, and there are diametrically arranged preferably at right angles to the slots or guideways I l.

The terminals 8 and may be united to the conductor wires If by any suitable means or method, such as by swaging, as clearly indicated, and each terminal is preferably provided with two outwardly extending projections ll which in the present instance are in the form ofcylindrical pins, arranged diametrically opposite to These projections maybe formed integrally on the terminals. or may be separate parts secured to the terminals in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing description. it will be clearly evident that to connect a terminal to the switchback, it is merely necessary to insert a terminal into an aperture I I with the projections l4 The arrangement is of such a character that the terminals are firmly but detachably secured in place, and it is to be understood that each terminal may be provided with but one projection,

, and the switchback with but one slot and notch if found desirable. also, that any form of projection means or receiving means for the projection means may be provided.

' Referring now to the modified form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 through 6. the object is to provide means whereby to assist, in locating the projections on the terminals so that the terminals may be more easily and quickly assembled with respect to the switchback. In this modification, all of the switch elements. except the terminals and the switchback, are of the same construction, as above described.

The switchback, as here shown, is preferably comprised of a plurality of members 50 and ii of insulating material. The outer member 50, is desirably moulded and made somewhat thicker than the inner member which is preferably made of sheet materiaL The outer member is provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures '52 and guideways or slots 53 corresponding to the apertures Ill and slots ll above referred to. Each of these apertures I2 is also provided with a bayonet notch, consisting of a seat 54, projec-' tion 85. and an entrance slot ,58, arranged in conjunction with each of the guideways or slots SI as clearly shown in Figure 6, and preferably circumferentially and diametrically opposite to each other, as shown in Figure 4. The inner member BI is provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures "which are in line with the apertures I2 and of the same diameter This'member acts as a stop which the projections engage to limit inward movement of a terminal and locatesthe projections in a position to be received by the bayonet notches.

As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, the projectlons provided on each terminal are set back from the end thereof a distance slightly greater than the projections l4 described above in order that the projections will properly cooperate with the baiyonet notches provided in the outer member 5 The parts are so constructed and arranged that each terminal may be more easily and quickly assembled with the switchback, and assembly may be accomplished by merely inserting the end of the terminal and the projections into the apertures 52 and guideways or slots 53, respectively. and pressing the terminal inwardlyagainst the resistance exerted by the resilient means or spring until the projections engage the member 5| which renders further inward movement of the terminal impossible, and theterminai is then rotated in a clockwise direction, the projections wise movement is required to seat the projections of the terminals,- including the degrees of rotation.

Referring to the modified construction disclosed in Figure 7, there is provided an arrangement in which the terminals are provided with spring pressed contact means adapted to engage the bridge member, said means taking the place oi. separate resilient means corresponding to the spring 6 or other arrangement.

In this modification, the switchback may beconstructed according to either of the modifica- I by a helical spring 63.

tions shown and described above, or otherwise, but since the terminals are quite long it is desirable that the switchback be rather thick, and therefore a switchback of the character last described is preferably used.

The .terminal here shown preferably includes a body 80. having a tubular part 6| in which is slidably secured a contact 82 pressed outwardly The terminal is also preferably provided with a pair of pins 84 corresponding to the pins above described which cooperate with the bayonet notches in the switchback 85 to detachably yet firmly secure the terminal thereto. Obviously the contact is adapted to engage the bridge member 86. Since the resilient means is operatively related to the terminals the use of a spring such as 6 may be eliminated, in which event the carrier directly engages the bottom wall of the casing as shown.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may rotatably arranged in said aperture, and separate.

insulating means engaging said insulator spaced from said cooperating means and engageable with said projection means for predetermining the location of said projection means with respect to said cooperating means when the terminal is being assembled with said insulator.

2. An electric switch including in combination, 7

insulator, a rigid terminal extending entirely minal secured to said casing, a terminal receiv-' ,ing aperture including a notch provided in said insulator, a terminal extending into said aperture and provided with projection meansadapted to cooperate with said notch, means associated with said insulator for predetermining the location of said projection means with respect to said notch when said terminal is being assembled with said insulator, bridge means arranged in said casing adapted to be moved into electrical engagement with said terminal, and resilient means associated with said bridge means for holding said projectionmeans in said notch.

4. An electric switch including in combination, a casing, an insulator adapted to receive a terminal secured to said casing, a terminal receiving aperture including cooperating means provided on said insulator, a terminal extending into said aperture and provided with'projection means adapted to connect with said cooperating means, bridge meansarranged in said casin adapted to be moved into electrical engagement with said terminal, and resilient means associ ated with said bridge means functioning to hold said projection means in connection with'said cooperating means.

5. A claim as set forth in claim 4, including a sheet of insulating material associated with said insulator and provided with a terminal receiving aperture in line with the aperture provided in said insulator said sheet providing a ,stop which said projection means en age to limit inward movement of theterminal during assembly with the actuator to predetermine the location of said projection means, with respect to said cooperating means in a manner whereby said projection means is placed in a desirable position to be received by said cooperating means.

6. Electrical connection means for a switch including in combination, an insulator and a tion, a casing, an insulator. secured to said casing, a terminal receiving aperture including a notch provided in said insulator, a plug terminal permanently connected to a conductor extending into said aperture, that portion of the terminalextending into said aperture being of a diameter less than the diameter of said aperture,

said terminal having projection means adapted to cooperate with said notch whereby said ter-.

plug conductor terminal, an aperture extending through said insulator and cooperating means provided on said insulator, projection means provided on said terminal adapted to connect V with said cooperating means when said terminal is arranged in said aperture, a spring pressed contact carried by said terminal, and means engaging said insulator for predetermining the location of said projection means with respect to said cooperating means when the terminal is being assembled with said insulator, and bridge means adapted to be moved into electrical enhold said terminal in connection with said'coop ra means.

I. An electrical switch including in combinagagement with said spring pressed contact, the spring associated with said contact functioning to minal may be. detachablyconnected to said insulator while said insulator is secured to said casing, bridge means arranged in said .casing adapted to be brought into electrical engagement with said terminal and separate resilient means holding 'said projection means in said notch.

i 8. Electrical connection including in, combination, an insulator provided with an aperture, a rigid plug conductor terminal having a portion extending into said aperture, projection means provided on said terminal, means provided on said insulator adapted to cooperate wtih said projection means in a manner whereby said terminal may be attached to said insulator, and means engaging said in-' sulator and spaced from said cooperating means J on said insulator and engageable with said projection means for limiting the inward movevent of said terminal when the terminal is being assembled wtih said insulator.

9. Electrical connection means for an electric switch provided with an insulator, said insulator jecting means to predetermine the position of p the terminal when the latter is being assembled with said insulator. p

10'. An electric switch including in combination, a casing, an insulator adapted to rotatably receive a plug conductor terminal secured to said casing, a terminal receiving aperture in cluding cooperating means provided on said insulator, a plug conductor terminal extending into said aperture and provided with projecting means adapted to connect with said cooperating means, a spring. pressed contact carried by said terminal, and bridge means arranged in said casing adapted to be moved into electrical engagement with said contact, the spring associated withsaid contact acting to press said projecting means into engagement with said cooperatin means whereby to .prevent rotationof said terminal with respect to said aperture.

11.An electric switch including in combination, a casing, an insulator adapted'to receivea terminal secured to said casing, a terminal receiving aperture including cooperating means provided on said insulator, a terminal extending into said aperture and provided with abutment means adapted to connect with said cooperating means, bridge means arranged in said casing adapted to be moved into electrical engagement with said terminal, and resilient means associated with said bridge means functioning to hold said abutment means on said'terminal in con nection with saidcooperating means. g

cmnuis s. ransom.

means for a switch 

